"They say I do not have experience. I tell them I have been all my life at the Argentine soccer national team and Carlos (Bilardo)behind me supporting. More experience can not be asked," said Maradona, one of the game's greatest players, and also one of its most troubled and volatile.

Moradona captained his country to World Cup victory in 1986 butwas kicked out of the finals in 1994 after failing a doping test. After retirement, he has had only two short coaching stints in themid-1990s totalling 23 games.

"So it makes me laugh when they say I'm inexperienced," added Maradona, who since retiring has fought off drug addiction, alcohol-related liver disease and obesity.